LOS ANGELES — Master Chief is returning to the battlefield next year.
Microsoft announced plans Friday to release the video game sequel "Halo 5: Guardians" for the Xbox One and a "Halo" television series to be produced by Steven Spielberg in fall 2015. The next entry in the sci-fi shooter series starring super-soldier Master Chief will run at 60 frames per second on a new engine created by "Halo" developer 343 Studios.
"Halo 5" will mark the first time a "Halo" game has run at that frame rate, which provides a more realistic sense of motion on screen and increases accuracy for players.
"'Halo 5: Guardians' is obviously a big deal for us," said Frank O'Connor, franchise development director at 343. "It's the next chapter in the Master Chief saga. It's also a big deal for us because of the transition to the Xbox One platform. All of the 'Halo' games — more or less — have added something to the Xbox ecosystem."
Bonnie Ross, general manager at 343 Studios, noted that additional plans this year for the "Halo" franchise would be announced June 9 at Microsoft's presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the largest annual gathering of the gaming industry.
At last year's E3, Microsoft showed footage featuring a cloaked figure revealed to be Master Chief encountering a bird-like robot in a desert with the words "2014: Your Journey Begins on Xbox One."
"Halo: Combat Evolved" launched in 2001 on the original Xbox and became a cultural sensation, spawning several sequels, spin-offs, novels and comic books set within the game's universe.
"Halo 4," which was released in 2012 for the Xbox 360, smashed entertainment industry records by making $300 million in its opening week. A live-action digital series, "Forward Unto Dawn," was released alongside "Halo 4." Microsoft previously announced Ridley Scott was executive producing a similar multi-part "Halo" film.
